During the 2001–02 season Bologna Football Club 1909 competed in Serie A and Coppa Italia.

The midfield led by the inspired trio of Fabio Pecchia, Matteo Brighi and Lamberto Zauli performed brilliantly all season, but Bologna's economy was not enough to keep those players at the club, and Pecchia signed for newcomers Como, while Zauli went to Serie B club Palermo.

That Bologna could not retain players who could get a better pay at smaller but ambitious clubs was a worrying sign in spite of the spectacular season.

It also had to sell defender Salvatore Fresi to champions Juventus, and looked set for a tougher season in 2002-03.

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